Not a Race Report

Did you notice that my blog has become a once-monthly collection of race reports? You can probably get some idea of what’s going on in my life from those, and I always include a picture of little Penny, but I want to post a non-RR for once! I feel the need to blabber on and on about random things. Here we go!

Running

I’m running! Something like 25-30 miles a week lately. I’ve enjoyed doing shorter races and am starting to do more trail running. I am signed up for a trail half marathon in May and also plan on signing up for a big 5k in May as well.

I am not following a training plan AT ALL. I just do what I can every week. I am not doing any speed work or structured workouts, but I am getting in a long run (10-12) every weekend. I occasionally feel like running fast and go out and do it. In the last couple of weeks: a tempo ish run – 6  miles at 8:05 or so pace, and then a 5k from my front door in 23:08 (7:28 pace).

I’ve been enjoying trail running more lately, and the last few weeks did my long run on the trails in Forest Park. I’m not aching to sign up for an ultra but it is way more interesting scenery for 2 hour runs. And with spring springing up all around, it’s so pretty:

I am looking at doing a fall marathon. Maybe/Probably Portland! I struggled before with NOT signing up for something big, but lately I’m totally ok with it. I’m sure I mentioned it before, but it is very hard now to put in big miles for me. Besides being so busy with the baby, I am still breastfeeding which is a huge metabolic effort. Burning something like 500-600 calories a day (and being on my feet all day) doesn’t leave me with much energy to run more than a few miles at a time or more than 4 days a week. I think my marathon goal will have to wait until we are mostly weaned.

Zach has the “big goal” base covered in our household lately- he’s back on the trails for hours and hours training for an ultra (or two, TBD). He gets up super early so he’s home by 9 or 10 and does his weekday runs on his lunch break. Busy guy, I really appreciate him. I’m doing my best to support him in his training.

Penelope

My sweet girl is about 8 1/2 months now. She is adorable, and so fun.

 

She is so special. She is also a handful. There’s a lot of this:

I think we’re entering the “separation anxiety” stage. Sometimes she only wants to be held by me and cries when I turn my back on her. Exhausting! She is very mobile- crawling all over and now trying to pull up to stand on stuff.

But she’s so sweet, and has the best smile. I love playing with her and watching her discover the world.

 

SAHM

So motherhood is (predictably) exhausting, fun, and rewarding. I am enjoying staying home with Penny. I’m in a groove and living the dream. We are workin’ the storytime circuit, taking swimming class, getting out for walks, going on play dates. I also do a ton of chores, including an insane amount of laundry (we do cloth diapers). I’m making all Penny’s baby food too. I work hard, but it’s balanced with a lot of fun.

 

Visitors and Trips

A big highlight of last month was a visit from a very special friend, Aron! She came up with her friend Jojo to run the Gorge Waterfalls 50k (which Zach ran last year, he volunteered this year) and stayed with us for a long weekend. It was GREAT! We ran together, we talked, we drank beer, we wandered around Portland. So fun! Also happened to have beautiful spring weather while she was here.

   

We also had family in town: Zach’s parents and his Aunt Carol. Love having visitors, and they loved seeing Penny!

We have a few trips planned for this summer. First, going to Los Angeles for my  dear friend Maritza’s wedding!! I can’t wait to celebrate with her and her lovely fiance. And she can’t wait to meet Penelope. We Face Time about once a week.

We are also making a big trip to Montana in July. I will be there for about two weeks, visiting family all over the state. Zach is coming too, but not for the whole 2 weeks. He hasn’t been back in a while, so it should be very fun. I can’t wait!

 

 

Ok! Down to the buzzer, Penelope is nearly up from her nap. I have more to say but need to wrap it up. Thanks for reading, those of you who still do! I never, ever comment on blogs anymore but love to read them all (switched over to BlogLovin app- it’s great!). I hope sometime to carve out a bit of time to comment and say hello, but don’t hold your breath.

Stay tuned for more race reports! Have a great day. :)

Luckython 5k Race Report

Happy St Patty’s Day! I celebrated the holiday by running a little 5k. On Saturday evening I ran the Luckython 5k out at the Reserve Vineyard and Golf Club in Aloha, OR. I ran another race out there in October so I knew it was a beautiful and fast place to run.

I signed up last minute, as usual, and tried to keep the pressure low. But, these evening races are very tough mentally! I was all wired all afternoon and couldn’t wait to get it over with. I always get nervous before any race, even a little 5k, but this all-day nerves business is ridiculous. I need to stop signing up for these! There were actually several other races going on that day- mine was at 6:15 but there was also one at 4:00 pm and another at 7:30. Weird to have so many different start times, but that’s how this race company likes to do things. For me, it meant a very small race that was mine to lose.

I knew it was a small field, and no one looked particularly intimidating, so I hoped to place high or win. I also had personal time goals, but would settle for one or the other. My PR is another ancient one (2006) and I was ready to wipe it out. However, the 22:07 is a tough pace and I had no idea if I’d be able to beat it.

The weather was lousy all day but the skies cleared just in time for the run. It was perfect, and so beautiful. It was cold (45, “feels like” 37) but I raced in a tank top and shorts. I fed the baby in the car and headed to the starting line. I jogged around a little, mostly to stay warm, and then we lined up. There was a young cross-country girl that I hoped was speedy but that was about it. That was the first time I actually worried that I wouldn’t have anyone fast to chase or push me. What a weird worry!

We started and right away I ran ahead of the young girl and a tall guy. I felt like I was sprinting so I tried kind of settling into a more sustainable pace. The sun was shining bright off the wet path and it was kind of blinding, but the scenery was super gorgeous. I was running completely alone. Which honestly kind of sucked. I had NO idea how fast I was running- I was once again going watch-free (garmin on, just didn’t look at it) so I had nothing to base my pace off. And whenever I had a chance to  look behind me there was no one in sight. So I just continued to run as hard as I could, asking myself “could I be running faster?” and always answering “No thank you.” I feel like there were times I kind of slacked off but I tried to pick it back up when I realized this. It didn’t take long until the golf club was back in sight and I was headed toward the finish. I saw Zach and his mom and aunt and sprinted to the finish line.

I saw the clock as I crossed and was surprised and immediately frustrated by my time!! 22:04! A PR by the skin of my teeth. But SO close to under 22:00 which was my “dream goal.” I was super happy though, and finished feeling great. I felt like maybe I did have a little gas left in the tank, and I immediately felt like I could have run faster (easy to say after the fact). I am already looking for a big 5k race to see if I can make that happen and break 22:00!

Official time: 22:04 (7:06 average pace)
1/39 Overall

Splits

Mile 1: 6:49
Mile 2: 7:06
Mile 3: 7:16
last .14 per garmin: :52 (6:15 pace)

So, all in all a great race. I won, and I set a PR! And it was a beautiful evening, my family was there, and just was a fun event. Yay!

Pictures:

 

 

and finishing..

        

Thank you for reading!

Oh, Hi from little Penny!